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5 summertime first-aid essentials

Citronella oil

During the summer, folks burn citronella-infused candles outdoors for a good reason: It's nature's way of keeping pesky bugs at bay. Dabbing diluted citronella oil — the oil comes from the leaves and stems of Cymbopogon plants — over exposed body parts is also an effective way to repel mosquitoes when candles aren't an option. You may have to apply citronella oil more frequently than conventional, chem-based bug repellents, but it's well worth it since using stinky, synthetic anti-bug remedies creates a noxious force field around you that not only repels pests, but people, too.

Citronella oil

During the summer, folks burn citronella-infused candles outdoors for a good reason: It's nature's way of keeping pesky bugs at bay. Dabbing diluted citronella oil — the oil comes from the leaves and stems of Cymbopogon plants — over exposed body parts is also an effective way to repel mosquitoes when candles aren't an option. You may have to apply citronella oil more frequently than conventional, chem-based bug repellents, but it's well worth it since using stinky, synthetic anti-bug remedies creates a noxious force field around you that not only repels pests, but people, too.